Maternity garment



1954 J. L. ALBERTS ET AL 2,663,292

MATERNITY GARMENT Filed Dec. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 1 {953 LANVENTORS 1954 J. ALBERTS ETAL MATERNITY GARMENT Filed Dec. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. ll

FIG. I0

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEII INVENTORS JA C03 L. ALB RT-5 E'O N N ALBERTS BYDN E'Y s, ALBEKTS -g" Bah-4 Ja- P 'vk THF/K" ATTORNEYS 3 from the region of maximum diameter to the top of the garment.

Rear section I of the garment is preferably allowed to stretch to the limit of its extensibility throughout its area although this may be controlled, if desired, whereas in the front and side sections the stretch is restricted in order to afford the desired support of the abdomen, that is to say, the elastic, extensible or stretchable material is not allowed to stretch to the limit of its extensibility; in fact, in the early part of the period of pregnancy the stretchable material is substantially prevented from stretching, or the stretching is greatly restricted, and the amount of extensibility is gradationally controlled by the wearer so as to cause the garment to conform to the changes in size and configuration of her body as the period progresses.

The elastic, extensible or stretchable material is indicated by reference numeral 5, and the gradational control of this fabric is accomplished by means of an additional layer of material which is either relatively non-stretchable, or substanhowever, this added layer 1 is placed on the inside and forms a lining for those portions of "the garment over which it extends. The stretching control layer 1 preferably extends throughout the upper front section 4 of the garment and is secured to section 4 only at the opposite sides, u

that is to say, the opposite side edges of control layer 1 are permanently secured to the opposite side edges of the elastic material 5 which forms section 4, these edges being indicated at E and 9, respectively.

The two layers of material may be secured together in any suitable way as, for example, by means of one or more vertical lines of stitching as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. It will be understood, of course, that in this specification the word vertica is used merely to mean in the general up and down direction in contrast to horizontal. Control material i is provided with a series of vertical tucks or sewed folds iii, each fold being held by a vertical line of stitching ii. As shown in Fig. 1, these tucks are located in the central region of control layer 1, although they may be otherwise arranged, as in two areas, shown in Fig. 16, one at each side of a central panel l2 which, however, is of freely extensible fabric. Also, if desired, the tucks may be spaced across the entire width of control layer i and the individual tuck may be made of any suitable width. Also, tucks H) extend throughout the vertical height of control layer '1, although, if desired, some of these tucks may be shorter than others in order to shape the garment as desired. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the center tuck extends only about half way from the top to the bottom of upper front section 4.

Upper front section 4 is releasably attached along its side edges 8 and 9 to the corresponding edges of side sections 3 and 2, respectively, by any suitable attaching means, such for example a the hooks l3 and eyes 14. Two rows of eyes M are preferably provided along the edges of side sections 3 and 2, these two rows converging into a single row at their lower ends.

The width of control layer 1 with all of its tucks intact is substantially equal to the unstretched width of the elastic material 6 across the face of upper front section 4, and under these circumstances this area of fabric 6 is substantially prevented from stretching. Hence, when the garment is placed about the body with hooks i3 on both sides of section 4 fastened to the outer rows of eyes [4, the maximum restriction of the body will be afforded. In other words, this provides the smallest size of the girdle. As the conditions of the body change and comfort demands greater freedom the hooks may be shifted to the inner row of eyes, first on one side and then on the other.

Thereafter, in order to attain greater expansion for the abdomen the stitching lines H are successively removed thereby gradationally increasing the effective width of control layer 1 and permitting the elastic material 6 of upper front section 4 to stretch or extend to a greater and greater degree. For example, referring to Fig. 6 the distance a indicates diagrammatically the width of the garment across the top before any of the tucks have been removed. In Fig. '7, however, the line of stitching H for the central tuck it has been removed and the line of holes in the control layer 7 which were formerly occupied by the line of stitching are indicated at l5. These lines have separated one half the width of the tuck from the centerline of the garment, thus allowing the width of the garment to increase by this much on each side as is indicated by the dimension A.

The lower front section 5 of the garment is also provided with a layer of non-stretchable material which is indicated at Hi. This layer preferably also has tucks [6a either full or part length and so distributed as to control the extensibility or stretching of the elastic material 6 of this portion of the garment, as desired. At the v-section indicated by numeral H in Figs. 1 and 2, the material H5 is removed so as to allow uncontrolled stretching of the fabric 6 within this triangular area. The restriction of the stretching of the garment throughout lower front section 5 in combination with the controlled stretchability of upper front section 4 as above described, enables the front portion of the garment to afford a shelf- .like support to the lower portion of the abdomen.

This is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9. The series of dotted outlines in this figure and in Fig. 8 show the gradational extension of the front section of the garment as a number of the tucks it are individually and successively removed.

In addition to the gradational control of the front section of the garment, the garment is also preferably provided with a similar control for its side sections 2 and 3. These sections are each provided with an inner control layer which is similar to control layer 7, but which is shown as only a single sewed fold or tuck [9 which is held in place by a line of vertical stitching 20. The control material l8 extends the full length of the garment from top to bottom but may be divided into sections, if desired, and it will be understood also that additional tucks may be added, if desired, and that some of these may extend only a part of the height of the garment. It will be understood that when the line of stitching 20 has been removed the effective horizontal length of the control material I8 is increased so as to allow the elastic fabric 6 to stretch to a greater extent. The effect of removing this line of stitching is indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 8 and 9 at the rear portion of the garment.

It will be understoodthcsfiiiiisteanfi' ofiimaking the-garmentcf l igse-l a sc that thenupperzifront portion 4-fclds- -ddwnward1-y:tc enablertheegan-l menttobe-put'on and taken ofi, theihookzand eye"connectionspn one side may-1*: be continued to the bottom of the garment smasstozchangesit from the step-in type to the type whichiisapplied by wrapping around the-wearers Figs. l'-15' inelusive=,- tliere:-.--has@ b.een.:i11us-. trated a garment -of -the \wrap aroundtype which also differs from the: garments previously. de: scribed--incertain respects-ix. Theztnontl-panel sec: ti'onisindicate'd -=at 2 i and lthisaisl .maderprefe erably of fabricwhich is stnetchabledmtheeventi: cal-directiononly==except for tthemLl-shapfid in: sert' 22 at the-bottom which isstretchable-in both directions It: couldcbezmadealmwevem:.Qf twoe way stretch fabric, and it rcould'also; lie-mt 7 non: stretch fabric; Thesrearrsectiom isrpreferably made of two po-rtions itherloweripolttiumfi which extends within a- 1 few. inc-bless 0ft. the; top: being preferably made oi'ifabric whichlstretches in the Vertical direction-only, and thempperusection; 24 of fabric which is stretchable in the horizontal direction only. The twosside sectionsi2z5gandizfi, however; arepreferably lmadelnf. f abric.:.which1 is stretchable both: directions; The; garment may-be providedvwithsfinishingstapes:21 and 28 along-=-the top -and bottomemarg'ins respectively, but": these tapescaressocmade: that-they; dot-not change i the. charactenrof the respective garment sections as: to: horizqntah; stretchability,, In other words; frontiisectiomzi is;preferably- .nonstretchable: in the .horizontal, direction through-,- out its length fromatheaextreme bottom; edgeoto the: extremetop edger.rexcept: f or :thectriangular insert- 2221. Likewise theslowcn rear; section. 23 is preferably nonestretchablewhorizontallyto. its extreme lowersedgeswhereaszthe upper; rear .section 24 is:horizontallmextensible; all. the away; to its upper edge including the tap 1s Further, the-l-sections oi:tapeslitandt-ZB wzhic are applied to the side garmentasections'.25;iand;26 are horizontallytextensibleesoa that:-nosrestriction in horizontalextensibility-,-is;produced; by gthe finishing tapes.2.1.and 28:

The-garment iseheldcinaplace by any suitable fastening means such as a row of hooks; and eyes appliedetoethe '..termina1;vertical edges-"2 s and 3 il, respectively. Asaindicated: in'F-ig 12 there .is preferably a;zdouhleerowg-o,f eyesa-which converges into a single row=;-slightly;below the-mid section oizthea garment seas. to. provide ;f( J;1' an. adjustment; similar; to; that 3; described, in; connection withgthepgarment. of Eigs 1779, inclusive In the modifieclicrm of;garmenksubstantially the; entire front gsectiongz I. is; made nonestretchable horizontally; and;v the stretch controlz .m a-; terial .is. applied to: the-side;- sectioned51 and;2.5, thee rear section 23;; also; being, non extensible horizontally except in a =narrowregion ,along the top thereof The stretch-control material-1m in the form;of .woyem ;fab1ti c 0rrany -suitab1e;-material tise-showrras sappliedioyerqabou one-half of thewidthrofxeach-ofithe two;:side;sect-ions;25 and 26-: asshown inrFig o12,:preferably- -the; rearghal-f portions. of. the ,side sQGt'ions-g so ;as .tqsform la teral on horizontals; ccnti-nuationssoi h gear; ection 232941161142 Materialc'lwmay, hQWV$1.,': be;app 1ied over. lesstaor mores than: half the =Width ofv sections ,.25 hum-2.5.

As indicated iincEigSalZ andila; thezcontrol material-Jami cprovideds withzohesors mnrecfull lengthitucks i31 aandcwith'sonezoramorestuckzs 3 2 which extendeless; thanzthesiullcvertical lengthw oi the ccntroltmaterialu. Iitcwi-llrbe eum'li that:thesetucksratcrheldzdh placesbwremovahlelines 'oflstitchingmi :andatha-tdgnadationalllcone trcl of the extcnsibi litmof asectionei-fi anduZfi {is obtained iby:successively emoving zthcsedihesmt' stitching whenever: its ismd'esired: osenlargecthe garment; or. the supper; pontiomzthereofh Thus, in vFig; .1142 loner. of ithelli-ness :ois stitching 3-3; been :removedxeandr :the :ztuclhzwhiehr iizxheldo has unfolded therebt extendingaithecefiective ehorie zontali-widthiofz the lcontro'kmaterials'lca thusjp mittings theaelasticefabrim;Beach sideesectionelfi adjacent-Ltd: this matcriala-toastretclr-to tatsneater extent-g s The nflnlSlllietfihableiii'chal'acten Ofiz flaunts-secs D111 2 ls=im.the: horizontakdiiiectiom gilvcssthe. e.- sinedasupportcto: the abdmnenr whereascaaccne siderablesyieldingaefiectcz iszprocidedebm the um-L- controlled rrtzstretchableeaneaseof .asidesscetichszii andi;26', the memaining: areas; oi thBSEgSQCfiiQIIS which-are subjectz-tozthc gradatibnahccrrtmkjust described eafiordingtaa nreanseofs successiaelyicene larginglthew garmenttassdesired. u Stretchability of.;.the material IDfIIfIfQDjB secti'cnrl 13in; the Mertica-l direction rzfacilitatessthesformation .cfz; the-gsheli support previously referred-ate: inmonnecticn flwdth Figssl-Qe In .:Fig., 15: a: modified .arasangcmentmfi-tne; con: trol material TCLL'IOI'LSQQtiQIlfi-EZS land-s2 hcwm Instead v oi; applying: the ,control .materialsinr a singlehontinuous. strip friomithe towtotthezdoottom of. thetgarment assinzFig'. 12E. iaiaappliedcinseweral separate sections. law, Jhueandemzs; Theetucks may .beremployedfimail lthizeesotzthese sections or..- theysmay i'bB romittedcaltoeethemor :shortcmd in; any one ofsthe ;sections;;for example; thQr-lQIl-r est section lac-.17 Thelsectionssoiccontml material wherever located; in thissgarmehtiomimthesgare ment. of.-.-Figs.';l=9 may-;:be;subdividediimthis mane ner, ifxdesired:

The modificaticmishewncimfig.5,,16sWasgbrieflyreferred .to .imaconnectiomwithcFigss,1-9; inclur sire. The gradational control: thee extrinsic bi1ity:. ofs thetelasticcfabriq off; the. upper: front section. 4a t.is. ,ob.tained=..im;the scrum-aways asidesscribed ;in.. connection withs Figs.;.,.1 =o 8;;0 1y difference .bGtWBGIIigSQCfiQHfiiGs and kbemgt that the;,c.entrals portion, oripanele lfitpofvsection la is lei'tfreclyxelasticcr: stretchablezz.-,whereas n ece time. is, permanently-r nprieextensib I bordering panels- (consideringithe twogelayersr 6;;ande'h to? gether) are located on eachmsidezoitthe ,central portionof themateri-ala'l which is cv-idegl iwith the itucksgliis, In E -g,i16}-';LhQft clg lilasare comy prised;in lborder ngzpanels diSDQSt lOILtcach-Fside ofit'theicentralcfreelyistretchab determinate series of tucks 40, two being shown. The side edges of this tongue portion within notch 36 are unattached to the stretchable elastic fabric. Below this tongue portion and in line with the edges of notch 36 are two tucks 4|, preferably of the tapering or graduated type.

When it is desired to let out lower front section 511, the two vertical tucks 4| are first removed by cutting their holding stitches. This allows the stretchable elastic fabric to stretch horizontally to a greater extent. It will be understood that additional vertical tucks of the straight or graduated type and substantially parallel to tucks 4| may be employed, if desired, to give a greater horizontal let-out. When it is desired to let out front section 50. still further, one or more of the horizontal tucks 40 may be removed which allows the stretchable elastic material to stretch to a greater extent in the vertical direction.

In Figs. 17, 18 and 19, the form of stitching is illustrated which is preferred to employ in stitching all of the tucks which have been referred to in the above description. Fig. 17 shows a single vertical tuck l as illustrated, for example, in Fig. viewing the tuck from the inside of the garment and considering that the stretchcontrol material I has been placed under tension as it is when the garment is worn. Fig. 18 is a view looking down on the edge of this tuck and the sectional view, Fig. 19, shows the relative positions of the two threads forming the stitching. One of the threads, for example thread 42, lies in a substantially straight line against the inside surface of material 1 adjacent the right bend 43 of tuck ill. The second thread 44 passes first through the left bend 45 of tuck l0, thence through right bend 43 and around thread 42, thence back through bends 43 and 45, this cycle being repeated to form a series of loops 46 which extend across the space between the tuck bends 43 and 45 and around the thread 42. This provides a form of stitching which, when the stretch-control material I is placed under tension, is very readily removed. This can be done either by severing loops 46 throughout the length of the tuck in the space between bends 43 and 45. Or it can be done without tension by freeing the opposite ends of thread 42, for example, by severing this thread at each end and then pulling the thread out of the loops 4'6. Thereafter, thread 44 may also be freed at each end and pulled out with a single motion.

The garment of the present invention affords the support which is desired in a maternity garment without the use of lacings or of rigid stays and with the advantage that the garment can be styled as desired and that it can be adjusted in size from time to time while retaining the yielding support given by stretchable elastic or resilient fabric.

It will be understood that the construction of the invention as described above, if desired, can be applied to garments-of the panty-girdle type and to corsets, corselets, garter belts, brassieres and the like, as well as to the garments described. In a panty-girdle the stretch-control material is preferably omitted from the lower section. The garment of the invention can be restored to its original condition after full use is made of the gradational control of stretchability and size, by replacing the tucks in the control material or by inserting a layer of non-stretchable material of appropriate width to give the size of garment desired; i

' The inventionhas been set forth in connection with several modifications. It will be understood, however, that additional changes may be made in the construction of the garment or the arrangement of its parts without exceeding the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. I

We claim:

1. A garment of the class described constructed and arranged to encircle the body and having at least one section comprising two layers, one of said layers being extensible in one direction and the other layer being of material which is non-extensible in the direction of extension of said extensible layer, said non-extensible material being secured at its opposite side edges to said extensible layer and havin portions normally not forming an efi'ective part of said nonextensible layer, said portions being selectively releasable to form an effective part of said non-extensible layer to increase the effective dimension thereof in the direction of extension of the extensible layer, whereby the extension of said extensible layer may be gradationaily controlled.

2. A garment of the class described constructed and arranged to encircle the body and having at least one section comprising two layers, one of said layers being of stretchable fabric and the other layer being of material which is relatively non-extensible in the direction of stretch of said stretchable layer, said non-extensible material being secured at its opposite side edges to the stretchable fabric and containing at least one sewed fold disposed to render the effective di mension of said non-extensible material between said side edges approximately the same as that of the adjacent layer of unstretched stretchable fabric, the stitching of said fold being removable to increase said ehective dimension and thereby provide for an increase stretch of said stretchable fabric.

3. A garment of the class described as set forth in claim 2 in which the stitching is formed in loops which are elongated crosswise of the folds causing the adjacent bends of the folds to separate when placed under tension so that the stitches can be readily severed without cutting said fold bends.

4:. A garment of the class described as set forth in claim 2 in which the stitching is formed with a series of threaded loops extending from one bend of a fold to the opposite bend thereof, thence through the material and around a second thread, said second thread lying along the surface of said material substantially in a straight line and unlooped about the first thread.

5. A garment of the class described constructed and arranged to encircle the body, at least one section thereof being of fabric which is stretchable both horizontally and vertically, a layer of material secured at its side edges to a portion of said stretchable section, said layer being non-stretchable in at least one direction and having at least one section releasable to increase the eifective dimension of said layer in its nonstretchable direction to permit an increase of the stretch of the stretchable fabric between the places Where said non-stretchable layer is secured thereto, and a second layer of material non-stretchable in at least one direction secured at its side edges to a second portion of said stretchable section, said second layer of nonstretchable material having sections releasable to increase the effective dimension of said second layer of non-stretchable material to permit an increase of the stretch of the stretchable fabric between the places where said non-stretchable layer is secured thereto, the direction of stretch control of said second layer of nonstretchable material being at an angle to the stretch control of said first layer of non-stretchable material.

6. A garment of the class described as set forth in claim wherein the first-mentioned section is in the upper portion of the garment and in which the layer of non-stretchable material of said section is divided into two spaced areas leaving a central panel of freely stretchable fabric between said areas.

7. A garment of the class described as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second-mentioned section is in the lower portion of the garment and in which the strength control layer for said section provides control in the vertical direction for the stretchable fabric immediately below said central panel.

8. A garment of the class described as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second-mentioned section is in the lower portion of the garment and in which the layer of stretch control material for said section provides a stretch control in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

9. A garment of the class described constructed and arranged to encircle the body and including front and side sections, said front section being releasably attached along vertical lines to at least one of said side sections by means of a double row of fastening devices, said front section being made of stretchable fabric, and a layer of non-stretchable material having sections releasable to increase the effective dimension of said layer in one direction secured at its side edges to said front section, whereby changes in the size of the garment can be effected both by said double row of fastening devices and by releasing said releasable sections.

10. A garment of the class described constructed and arranged to encircle the body, substantially the entire garment being made of stretchable fabric, the lower front section of the garment from the bottom upward having a layer of relatively non-extensible material provided with means to control the stretch of said lower front section, the side edges of said layer being secured by a vertical seam to the sides of the garment, and the upper front section of the garment extending upwardly from said lower section substantially to the top of the garment being releasably secured to at least one side section of the garment, and a layer of relatively non-extensible material extending throughout said upper front section and having means to control the extensibility of said upper front section, the upper and lower edges of said last-mentioned layer of non-extensible material being attached to said upper front section to selectively control the extensibility of said section.

11. A garment of the class described, at least one section of which is composed of two layers, one of said layers being of stretchable material and the other of said layers being of non-stretchable material having at least one section which normally does not form an effective part of that layer, said section being releasable to form an effective part of the non-stretchable layer to increase the effective dimension thereof to permit the stretchable layer to be stretched a greater distance to increase a dimension of the garment, said layers being secured together along the side edges of said section and substantially perpendicular to the direction of said change in dimension.

12. A garment of the class described, at least one section of which is composed of two layers, one of said layers being of stretchable material and the other of said layers being of relatively non-stretchable material containing a series of releasable sewed folds extending at right angles to the direction of stretch of said stretchable layer, said layers being secured together along the side edges of said section substantially parallel to said folds.

13. A garment of the class described having a front section comprising a central panel and two bordering panels, one on each side of the central panel, said central panel being stretchable in at least one direction and said bordering panels being composed of two layers secured together along the side edges and to said bordering respective panels, one of said layers being stretchable in at least one direction and the other of said layers being non-stretchable and having section normally not forming an effective part of said nonstretchable layer, said portions being selectively releasable to form an effective part of said non.- stretchable layer to increase the effective dimension thereof in the direction of stretch of the stretchable layer to provide gradational control of the stretch of said bordering panels by the wearer, whereby said panels can be stretched to successively greater extents to increase a dimension of the garment.

JACOB L. ALBERTS. LEON N. ALBERTS. SYDNEY S. ALBERTS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,044,668 Cukor June 16, 1936 2,049,242 Barcley July 28, 1936 2,100,163 Goodman Nov. 23, 1937 2,265,662 Marshall Dec. 9, 1941 2,290,485 Sutter July 21, 1942 2,309,501 Cohen Jan. 26, 1943 2,351,566 Welsch June 13, 1944 

